River Road nips Iowa Park in closing seconds

AMARILLO — River Road junior Matt Marrs booted a 32-yard field goal with seconds remaining in the game to give the host Wildcats an emotional 23-21 victory over nondistrict opponent Iowa Park.

The winning score ended the roller-coaster of emotions for River Road, which handed Iowa Park its fifth straight loss.

What had been a evenly matched but somewhat plodding game, plagued by turnovers and dropped passes, turned into high drama in the final few minutes of the fourth quarter.

Trailing 21-14, River Road seemed doomed, as Iowa Park had the ball with a little over two minutes remaining.

But working deep in their own end, the Hawks called a pass play. That led to a 25-yard interception return by Marrs, who stunned both teammates and opponents into the end zone by powering into the end zone for a score that brought the Wildcats to within a point.

Needing a chip-shot extra point to tie, River Road decided to line up for the kick, but go for a two-point conversion.

"We didn't come here to tie Iowa Park," said River Road coach Jayme Carr, who used to coach at Wichita Falls High School. "That wasn't our goal at any point — we came in here to win. So we lined up in our extra point offense, but the snap just went over the holder's head. He recovered and tried to get it out, but we were going for the win there."

The busted play on the conversion attempt left the Wildcats trailing by a point.

For the second time in the waning minutes of the game, Iowa Park got the ball back, needing only to keep possession for a couple of minutes to win.

But another Hawks fumble — their fourth of the night — was recovered by River Road's Tristan Beezley near midfield.

The Wildcats went into their two-minute offense, but stalled and had to try for a 43-yard field goal attempt.

The kick fell short, but a roughing-the-kicker gave River Road another life.